D.E.E.N.
Homeschool Co-op
FAQ
If your question is not answered here, please contact us.
How does a cooperative differ from other school settings?
What if my children have special needs or need enrichment or extra help?
Unlike other educational settings, we require and pride ourselves on parental involvement and participation. This includes managing the day to day activities of co-op, looking for curriculums, providing lunches, planning field trips and extra-curricular activities, etc.
Approximately how much will the school fees be?
At the co-op we have two types of fees, Co-op Fees, and Teacher Fees. Co-op Fees help with the day to day running of the co-op financially and are paid in four installments throughout the year. The first being due at registration in the summer and the other installments being due throughout the year. The fees are $500 dollars a year per child. Teacher Fees pay the teachers that we hire. Teacher Fees depend on how many teachers and students a level has. The teachers' pay is figured and that amount is split amongst the families in the level. Although we are unsure, we are hoping that Teacher Fees will range from $300-$400 monthly. That figure could be less, but not more, Insha Allah.
The Co-op is not equipped to provide IEPs or support for special needs children. Nor can we provide ESL instruction. However, the co-op does aim to meet the needs of all accepted students. On the other hand, if your child is struggling in a certain area, you may need to find ways to assist your child with the work of the co-op. In the same vein, if your child is excelling way beyond others in their level, you may need to find appropriate enrichment. Also, if a subject that you deem necessary is not offered, you will have to provide it for your child.
How do you determine entrance to the co-op?
At the co-op, we have mixed-grade level classrooms. We decide which grades to offer, and how to group the multi-grade classroom based on new applications and current enrollment. Our grade offerings and multi-level classrooms will vary from year to year. We strive to maintain a balance of gender, grade-level and personality types/learning styles in each class. In addition, our student enrollment is capped at 20. This means that we may not accept a student in the co-op based on any of the factors above.
What types of hands-on experiences will my children have while in the co-op?
What if I cannot financially afford the co-op?
This will vary according to the teacher and subject, however, hands-on and real-life experiences are essential to the curriculum of D.E.E.N Co-op. It is our firm belief that these experiences will bring the curriculum to life and will allow the children to really learn what they are being taught. An example could be that in Islamic Studies when learning about the Seerah, the students will learn to cook different foods that were preferred by the Prophet, pbuh. Or in Science, when they learn about astronomy, they will spend time actually outdoors looking into the heavens. In Cultural Studies, they will actually meet and speak to people of different cultures.
Is there a special entrance exam or placement exam for the co-op?
We do not want finances to prevent any family from joining the co-op, however, we can only accept a small number of families that need a scholarship. Because we value all time and resources a family can contribute to the co-op, we will give tuition discounts to those families who are able to fulfill the needs of the co-op. This could be teaching, if the parent is qualified, or cooking lunches, or being a hall monitor or being in charge of other needed co-op business.
No, there is not a special test that is taken for entrance or placement. We generally go by school grade and maturity level. For instance, if your child is a 3rd grader, they will be placed in the first level. If you feel your child has been placed in the wrong grade or level, you may talk to the administration and a decision will be made based on what is best for your child and the co-op as a whole. As needed, D.E.E.N. may test an applicant to deem appropriateness for any given level. In addition, the co-op may use testing to measure progress and mastery of skills.
How involved do the parents have to be in the co-op? Do I have to teach?
How will Islam be integrated into the lessons?
Islam will be integrated into the curriculum in a myriad of ways. First, the students will have an Islamic Studies period, where the students will study an array of subjects, such as Islamic character, Seerah and explanations of various ayahs and hadiths. Secondly, Islam will inform and guide our instruction and discussions of all subjects and topics in our curriculum. For example, in Math, there will be a mention of Muslim mathematicians. In history, the students will look at Islamic civilizations and look at history from different perspectives.
Parent involvement is essential and will be the key to our co-op success. The shared responsibilities make educating our children easier for everyone. While we hire teachers for all subjects, some parents, if qualified, may teach. There are many other areas in which the co-op needs parental involvement. You will be asked to help in your areas of expertise and to provide any resources that you may have access to. How can you help can make the co-op better?
Do the students receive grades?
For the younger age groups in Levels 1 & 2, grades will not be given. Instead students will be given assessed based on the expectation for a given course. These expectations vary depending the age and development of the individual child. We believe that there are many ways to assess a child and check understanding. We use EMAN scale, for Exceeding, Meeting, Approaching and Not Meeting Expectations. For the older children in Level 3, a traditional grading system will be used. However, the scale will also be adjusted based on the grade level and ability of the different children in the level. This system will help the parents and teachers to assess the progress of students and get them used to grading systems in colleges and universities. However, grades will be based on more than just academic performance. Remember at D.E.E.N.Co-op we value the child as a whole.
Parent involvement is essential and will be the key to our co-op success. The shared responsibilities make educating our children easier for everyone. While we hire teachers for all subjects, some parents, if qualified, may teach. There are many other areas in which the co-op needs parental involvement. You will be asked to help in your areas of expertise and to provide any resources that you may have access to. How can you help can make the co-op better?
What grades are open for enrollment? Is there a cut off for Kindergarten enrollment?
We are currently looking for elementary and middle school applicants. We will offer mixed-age classrooms for Kindergarten through 9th Grade. Depending on applicants and current enrollment, we may not offer every grade. Applicants for Kindergarten must be 5 years old by the first day of school, August 22, 2019.
